Yarmouth town manager receives statewide honor

YARMOUTH — The town’s chief executive has won top honors from a statewide organization.

Town Manager Nat Tupper received the 2013 Linc Stackpole Manager-of-the-Year Award from the Maine Town, City and County Management Association on Aug. 14 during an annual meeting held in Newry.

Tupper, 56, said he was honored by the award, which has been given to one Maine town, city or county manager per year for the past 37 years.

“It was very humbling and very pleasing,” Tupper said. “Year after year you go to these meetings and you just so much admire the folks that have been acknowledged before, and you aspire to be somewhere near as worthy, to be in the same game with them.”

Town Council Chairman Steve Woods said the award was well deserved and reflects well on the community.

“This award is a great honor for both Nat and the town of Yarmouth,” Woods said in a news release. “Nat personifies the collaborative spirit of Yarmouth, which can be seen through our nationally recognized school system, open community spaces, the iconic Yarmouth Clam Festival and our daily town operations.”

Tupper has served as town manager for 22 years, since 1991. His career in municipal government began in 1980, straight out of a graduate program at the University of Maine, when Tupper he moved to Winter Harbor for the first of four town manager jobs.

“That’s all I’ve ever done in my life. I have no other job skills,” Tupper joked. “I’ve got to make this gig work.”

He later served in Livermore Falls; Barre, Vt., and Yarmouth, where he plans to stay.

“It just can’t be any better anywhere else,” Tupper said. “If they’ll have me, I’ll stay as long as I can.”

The Stackpole award is named for Lincoln Stackpole, who served as town manager in Machias from 1970 until his death 1977. It recognizes integrity, leadership, social responsibility and other qualities.

Tupper has been involved in several Maine organizations, including the Institute for Civic Leadership, Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System and the Greater Portland Council of Governments. He has also served as a deacon at the First Parish Church.

Tupper is the second Yarmouth town manager to win the award. Former Town Manager Osmond Bonsey received the award in 1983.